Fabaceae FAMILY

Pediomelum cuspidatum

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

Although no specific mention of toxicity for this species has been found, at least some members of this genus are known to contain furanocoumarins, particularly psoralen and angelicin. These compounds can be found in low concentrations in many common foods including citrus fruirs, celery, parsley and parsnips. Ingestion or skin application of these compounds in larger quantities can cause skin photosensitization followed by hyperpigmentation[ 65 Title A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Publication Author Frohne. D. and Pfänder. J. Publisher Wolfe Year 1984 ISBN 0723408394 Description Brilliant. Goes into technical details but in a very readable way. The best work on the subject that I've come across so far. , 1572 Title Furocoumarins and Other Secondary Metabolites from Psoralea canescens Publication International Journal of Pharmacognosy, 1997 , Vol 35, 4 pp 232-236 Author Innocenti G.; Bourgaud F.; Piovan A. & Favretto D. Publisher Year 1997 ISBN 0925-1618 Description ].

Botanical Description

Pediomelum cuspidatum is a stout, freely-branched, decumbent or erect to ascending, herbaceous perennial plant growing from a long, deep, spindle-shaped rootstock; it can grow 30 - 80cm tall[ 235 Title An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Publication Author Britton. N. L. Brown. A. Publisher Dover Publications. New York. Year 1970 ISBN 0-486-22642-5 Description Reprint of a 1913 Flora, but still a very useful book. , 274 Title Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Publication Author Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Website http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm Publisher Botanical Research Institute, Texas. Year 1999 ISBN 1-889878-01-4 Description An excellent flora, which is also available on-line. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It can be used in soil stabilization projects within its native range.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeCentral and southern N. America - Montana, South Dakota, south through Colorado and Kansas to Texas.

HabitatDry plains and calcareous hills[ 43 Title Gray's Manual of Botany.Eighth Edition Publication Author Fernald. M. L. Publisher American Book Co.; New York Year 1950 ISBN 0442222505 Description A bit dated but a good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America. ]. Clayey, rocky or sandy prairies in Texas[ 274 Title Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Publication Author Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Website http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm Publisher Botanical Research Institute, Texas. Year 1999 ISBN 1-889878-01-4 Description An excellent flora, which is also available on-line. ].